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Thoroughbred trainer Graham Motion and three-day eventer Buck Davidson team up for UK lecture series

Two equine industry titans will team up for University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs’ next Distinguished Industry Lecture Series. H. Graham Motion, trainer of the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, and Bruce “Buck” Davidson, Jr., an eventer who competed for the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and was an alternate for both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams, will speak April 21 at 6 p.m. EDT in the Ag Science Building’s Seay Auditorium on the UK campus.

Sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, the event is free and open to the public.

“We are thrilled that Mr. Motion and Mr. Davidson are willing to so generously give of their time and expertise to provide this unique opportunity for our students and community to learn from not one, but two of the industry's most respected individuals. In addition, we are looking forward to discovering the common theme between two seemingly different equine sports, racing and eventing,” said Jill Stowe, director of UK Ag Equine Programs and faculty member in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Agricultural Economics.

Motion captured the 137th Kentucky Derby in 2011 with Team Valor's Animal Kingdom, who would also go on to run second in the Preakness Stakes and win the 2013 Dubai World Cup. Motion, a native of Cambridge, England, moved to the U.S. when he was 16. His father was a U.S. representative for the British sales company Tattersalls. Motion worked for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard and as an assistant to Bernard (Bernie) P. Bond before taking out his own trainer's license. He has since saddled more than 1,000 winners. Motion currently resides in Fair Hill, Md., with his wife and two children and operates a public stable, Herringswell Stables, in Lewisville, Pa. His official website can be found athttp://www.hgrahammotion.com.

According to his official bio, Davidson, the son of eventing legend Bruce Davidson, Sr., has been in the saddle since birth. He is recognized as an outstanding athlete, horseman, competitor, trainer, coach and clinician. He runs a training and competition facility during the winter in Ocala, Fla. and during the summer in Riegelsville, Pa. His students range from young riders and adult amateurs to professionals. He will be competing in the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. His accomplishments include the 2013 Pinnacle Trophy for highest placed U.S. rider at Rolex KY CCI, top ranked rider in the U.S. in 2011, 2011 Pan American Team member and second ranked rider in the U.S. in 2010 and 2009. His official website can be found at http://www.buckdavidson.com.

“This lecture series has always featured distinguished leaders and practitioners of the equine industry. For this series, we have a true ‘dream team,’ invited by Dr. Stuart Brown of our sponsoring organization. Dr. Brown and our speakers are linked through respect for and admiration of the late Christine Comella Brown, an eventer who was the wife of Dr. Brown, and who we are very proud to say was a UK alum,” said Nancy Cox, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment dean.

The Distinguished Lecture Series began in the fall of 2009 and has become a signature event of UK Ag Equine Programs. It is designed to showcase important figures from the equine industry in an informal setting. Dan Liebman, past editor-in-chief for The Blood-Horse magazine, has interviewed all of the participants during the event.

Previous series speakers included Keeneland’s Nick Nicholson in November 2009, accomplished equestrienne Nina Bonnie in April 2010, Keeneland’s Ted Bassett in April 2011, Zenyatta owners Jerry and Ann Moss in September 2011 and Olympian Reed Kessler in November 2012.